Blue Jackets roster battling flu bug
Associated Press
9/27/2005 10:24:54 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A day after their dressing room was cleaned and disinfected as a precaution, the flu-ridden Columbus Blue Jackets returned to the ice Tuesday on wobbly legs.
About three-quarters of the 39-man roster complained of fever, aches and pains, headache, dizziness and upset stomachs last weekend. Because of the number of sick players, the dressing room was closed Monday.
The Blue Jackets were expected to be near full strength for Tuesday night's exhibition game at Pittsburgh.
"We found it a little bit odd," team spokesman Todd Sharrock said Tuesday. "The flu always seems to hit during the course of a year, but never this way. We had people come in and clean and disinfect the dressing room as a precaution. Monday was an off day, so it was a good day to do it."
The Blue Jackets played in Chicago on Sunday night, getting by with 11 forwards and five defencemen - one fewer of each than would normally be used. Pascal Leclaire started in goal but came out after the first period because he wasn't feeling well.
Columbus president and general manager Doug MacLean said doctors had run tests on the players but there were no indications it was anything more than the flu.
Associated Press
9/27/2005 10:24:54 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A day after their dressing room was cleaned and disinfected as a precaution, the flu-ridden Columbus Blue Jackets returned to the ice Tuesday on wobbly legs.
About three-quarters of the 39-man roster complained of fever, aches and pains, headache, dizziness and upset stomachs last weekend. Because of the number of sick players, the dressing room was closed Monday.
The Blue Jackets were expected to be near full strength for Tuesday night's exhibition game at Pittsburgh.
"We found it a little bit odd," team spokesman Todd Sharrock said Tuesday. "The flu always seems to hit during the course of a year, but never this way. We had people come in and clean and disinfect the dressing room as a precaution. Monday was an off day, so it was a good day to do it."
The Blue Jackets played in Chicago on Sunday night, getting by with 11 forwards and five defencemen - one fewer of each than would normally be used. Pascal Leclaire started in goal but came out after the first period because he wasn't feeling well.
Columbus president and general manager Doug MacLean said doctors had run tests on the players but there were no indications it was anything more than the flu.
